China Calls on US to Avoid Double Standards Concerning Terrorism

BEIJING, (ST)_ Spokeswoman for the Chinese  Foreign Ministry Hua Chunying said Friday that China hopes the United States will avoid using a double standard when discussing terrorism.

The Chinese News Agency Xinhua  quoted  Hua  as saying in  response to a question about U.S. remarks regarding a violent attack that occurred on Wednesday in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The police shot and killed 11 rioters at the scene and captured another four who were injured.

The U.S. said it is closely following the reports of violence, as well as urged China to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation and to provide due process and legal protection to those have been detained.

“We have taken note of the remarks made by the U.S. State Department spokesman,” Hua said, adding that China is unsatisfied with the spokesman’s remarks, as well as U.S. criticism of China’s ethnic and religious policies

She said the Chinese government protects the rights of people of all ethnic groups in accordance with law, including their freedom of religion.

China hopes the U.S. will work with the international community to fight terrorism and enhance international anti-terrorism cooperation, she added.

The  spokesman for the U.S. State Department Patrick Ventral said earlier that the United States remains “deeply concerned”  over what he called a “news about the discrimination and restrictions against Uighurs” in China

Worthy mentioning a  total of 24 people have been killed by rioters in the attack in Lukqun Township in Xinjiang’s Shanshan County. The rioters attacked the township’s police stations, a local government building and a construction site, as well as set fire to police cars. Twenty-one police officers and civilians were injured.

T. Fateh